As of January 1, 2017, Dr. Rothstein has limited his practice to providing Orthodontic Jaw Wiring for Weight-Control: OJW®: Weight-control. He provides this service in Brooklyn, NY and will soon announce a new office location in Portland,OR where the Oregon Board of Dentistry on June 23 created history by ruling that Dental Professionals are at liberty to Provide Weight-control services. See www.ojwforweightcontrol.com
Contact: 718 808 2656; drted35@gmail.com

Microimplant Procedure

The procedure of placing implanting a pin screw takes between 5 and 10 minutes. Even for provider with average skill it would be described as a relatively easy procedure. The patient will experience little or no discomfort whatsoever before, during or after the procedure.

July 10, 26 days post op: The pin-screw had gradually become looser and began to feel like a loose tent peg and uncomfortable as well. I was easily able to screw out the pin by hand. In retrospect only a wax covering gave relief from the scratchy feeling of the head. Consequently, in practice, the head of the pin must not be left uncovered if the patient is to feel comfortable. It has been conjectured that the self-loosening might have been hastened because the pin was never placed under a load.

The implant site sans implant just after removal of the pin. The patient was greatly relieved to have the pin gone, but consented to have another one place.

All instruments and tools are prepared. Patients molds and X-rays have been reviewed.

Doctor palpates region to feel position of roots.

Completion of exam is followed by local anesthesia.

Here local anesthesia being delivered.

Probe is used to pierce the gum to mark position from where a 2.0 mm punch of tissue will be taken.

a small bit of blood is wiped away.

The tissue punch removes the patch of tissue including the periostium exposing the surface of the bone.

The pilot drill speed is, set to about 1000 rpm, begins to form the hole that the implant will be placed in. it has a preset depth limit built in.

Suction is used to take away any any blood that forms in the working field.

Suction is used to take away any any blood that forms in the working field.

The self-tapping pin implant comes set into its own handle is now screwed into the hole drilled especially for it. Here the pin screw selected was 8 mm in length and 1.5 mm in thickness..

The operator continues screwing the pin into the pilot hole until he either meets resistance or the pin is completely screwed in to its limit.

Here the pin-screw has reached its limit of insertion into the pilot hole (about half its length) by hand screwing.

The ratchet wrench with torque set at 10 units the operator continues threading the pin-screw further into the bone.

The patient reported no pain during the course of the procedure, nor did he experience any discomfort in the days following the placement of the microimplant. However, the patient reported his constant impulse to explore the surface of the the new implant with his tongue and finger. The surface does feel somewhat rough to the feel. He covered the the head of the screw-pin with some wax, which solved the problem.

If the neck of the wrench reaches its 10 units of torque limit and "breaks" at its articulation, and the screw still needs has more threads to be inserted, the adjustment collar at the far end of the wrench is turned 1 whole turn which increases the torque by 2 units. The operator then continues turning the implant until either the articulation breaks again or the screw is completely threaded in as far as its collar allows , etc..

July 10, 26 days post op: The pin-screw had gradually become looser and began to feel like a loose tent peg and uncomfortable as well. I was easily able to screw out the pin by hand. In retrospect only a wax covering gave relief from the scratchy feeling of the head. Consequently, in practice, the head of the pin must not be left uncovered if the patient is to feel comfortable. It has been conjectured that the self-loosening might have been hastened because the pin was never placed under a load.

The implant site sans implant just after removal of the pin. The patient was greatly relieved to have the pin gone, but consented to have another one place.